Orkun Kökçü says goodbye after transfer to Benfica: ‘I will always be one of you, Feyenoord is in my heart’ | Foreign football

Kökçü signs a five-year contract in Portugal, where he is reunited with Norwegian Fredrik Aursnes, who left Feyenoord for Benfica last year. Kökçü already indicated last week that he would leave Feyenoord if a great club from abroad reports for him and he also became enthusiastic about Benfica through talks with Aursnes.

,,I have always said that I would only leave Feyenoord when the time is right and the conditions would also be good for the club. I wanted nothing more than to be successful with this great club first. The fact that this was successful helps me to be able to say goodbye with pride and satisfaction. All those years at Feyenoord have not only shaped me as a footballer, but also as a person,” said Kökçü, who later also expressed himself on social media.

“Dear supporters, the time has come for me to say goodbye to you for now. I can proudly say that I have grown as a footballer at this wonderful club, but also – not to forget – as a person. As a 17-year-old I was allowed to make my debut for Feyenoord 1. The years that followed went with ups and downs. What will stay with me in particular are the last two seasons with being on the Coolsingel as the ultimate. In a word: unforgettable. I want to thank you again for the unconditional support. I will always be one of you. Feyenoord is in my heart,” said the Turkish international.

With the fixed transfer fee of 25 million euros, Kökçü is now Feyenoord’s record sale together with Luis Sinisterra. Sinisterra left for Leeds United for the same amount last season. There is a buyout fee in Kökçü’s Benfica contract of 150 million euros. The resale percentage depends on the amount Benfica will sell Kökçü for in the future.

The Turkish captain of Feyenoord landed at Lisbon airport last night and smoothed out the last wrinkles today, including the mandatory medical examination. With his transfer to the club of former PSV coach Roger Schmidt, Kökçü is following in the footsteps of, among others, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Gaston Taument, former Feyenoord players who also once played for Benfica.

Kökcü, born in Haarlem, made the switch in 2014 from the youth academy of FC Groningen to that of Feyenoord. He made his debut with the team from Rotterdam in 2018. Last season, Kökcü became captain of Feyenoord, winning the first national title since 2017. Kökcü played 173 games for the club from Rotterdam and scored 32 times.

Next week, Kökçü will report to the national team of Turkey, which will play against Latvia and Wales in the European Championship qualification.